After his team was humbled in its biggest game of the season on national television, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin didn't revisit history and promise lineup changes or make bold proclamations.

Tomlin kept his message simple and direct following Sunday's 39-26 loss to the New England Patriots at Heinz Field. Because there was plenty of blame to go around, Tomlin pointed the finger at everyone, including himself.

"They made more consistent plays, more significant plays," Tomlin said of the Patriots, who amassed 453 yards of total offense and sacked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger five times. "We've got to get better."

A year ago, following a stunning loss to Oakland, also at Heinz Field, that dropped the Steelers record to 6-6, Tomlin vowed to shake up his defense the next game against Cleveland.

Tomlin's threats had little effect on his players, and the starting lineup remained intact. If anything, the Steelers played their worst game of the season in a 13-6 loss to the Browns.

The past year has been a learning experience for Tomlin, who appears to have a better understanding how to publicly channel his emotions following a loss, especially when the Steelers perform badly.

Tomlin was noncommittal following the setback to New England, in which he arguably set a record for brevity with his postgame comments.

"We need to make necessary corrections and be better for it when given an opportunity (that) we can fight and put ourselves in position to play in this kind of game again," said Tomlin, who limited his criticism to the team rather than individuals. "Hopefully, we'll learn from this."

What little Tomlin did say to the media resonated with his players, who didn't need their coach to tell them how poorly they played against the Patriots.

"It's incredibly humbling. We just didn't put a good team effort together," safety Troy Polamalu said. "There's a lot to learn from this game, that's for sure. We'll see if we're a championship-caliber team how we respond to this.

"We didn't put a good team effort together. It seems like one part of our team is doing well at one time. We've got to play on all pistons to beat a team as good as New England."

Following a 20-17 overtime loss at Baltimore last November, Tomlin promised his team would "unleash hell" the following week against Oakland. After the Steelers stumbled against Oakland, some of the Raiders said Tomlin's pregame prediction motivated them.

This year, Tomlin is saving any motivation for his own players.

"We've got to bounce back fast," said wide receiver Hines Ward, who suffered a concussion against New England but expects to play against Oakland this Sunday at Heinz Field. "Oakland's a pretty good team. Last year they beat us. That's fresh on a lot of guys' minds."

This is a guy who is completely clueless. He was quickly praised as a genius when he won SBXLIII so quickly - albeit with the team Bill Cowher put together for the most part (which was never mentioned) and now we are seeing how truly inept this guy is. Clueless, absolutely clueless.

This is a guy who is completely clueless. He was quickly praised as a genius when he won SBXLIII so quickly - albeit with the team Bill Cowher put together for the most part (which was never mentioned) and now we are seeing how truly inept this guy is. Clueless, absolutely clueless.

I know. It's scary. I think he Switzered himself to a SB. I was impressed with him earlier in the year though. He came with fire in his belly. It was great to see him all juiced up on the sideline. The team played with a nasty edge as well. Then Ben came back and all of that has changed. I see a more subdued coach who's trying to take an all business approach. He looked like he was in a coma the other night against the Pats. I think now, with all the bloody injuries, he's got to really rally the troops and push them over the edge. He's got to lift up their spirits and instill the will in them to win no matter who's in the game. Outwardly though, he appears to want to go with the standard is the standard approach. Well, no it isn't. There's a lack of depth on this team in certain parts. And that standard is below standard. They HAVE to adjust. It is not business as usual.

This is a guy who is completely clueless. He was quickly praised as a genius when he won SBXLIII so quickly - albeit with the team Bill Cowher put together for the most part (which was never mentioned) and now we are seeing how truly inept this guy is. Clueless, absolutely clueless.

He's clueless but boy, can he talk! He's much more impressive with a microphone than with a playbook, that's for sure. Remember his famous "unleashing hell"?

This is a guy who is completely clueless. He was quickly praised as a genius when he won SBXLIII so quickly - albeit with the team Bill Cowher put together for the most part (which was never mentioned) and now we are seeing how truly inept this guy is. Clueless, absolutely clueless.

I still give him some credit for the superbowl win just because of the interception return because he was pretty much the only guy on the coaching staff who realized that when someone has an interception, defensive players should learn to block... Should show you how overrated the coaching staff really is, when not even LeBeau is teaching the defense this.

Though he's still clueless, he's really just a figure who preaches and motivates, he has no real ideas that help the team and in some press conferences, when asked about play calling he seems completely clueless.

But I'd pick him any day over some of the half-witted coaches in this league..

For all the people bitching about Tomlin being our head coach I've got a name for you as a replcement...Wade Philips! Or may be at the end of the year we'll be able to get Marvin Lewis instead, pretty sure he'll be available

This is a guy who is completely clueless. He was quickly praised as a genius when he won SBXLIII so quickly - albeit with the team Bill Cowher put together for the most part (which was never mentioned) and now we are seeing how truly inept this guy is. Clueless, absolutely clueless.

I think its still too early to tell... We said that "a lot" about Cowher before he won his first SB. But, the ball is def. in his (Tomlin's) court. Lets see how he hits it back...

__________________A HOUSE DIVIDED WILL FALL TO IT'S ENEMIES;
BUT IN UNITY THERE ARE 6' SUPER BOWLS !!!